Technical Library
This Cyclades customer is the world’s largest provider of mobile Internet Services. They cover more than half of all mobile subscribers across the globe, including AT&T Wireless, Verizon Wireless, Sprint PCS, Nextel, KDDI and Genie. They use Sun servers and a fair amount of diverse platforms. To centralize their operations, they need solutions with the most advanced data center services.
The problem:
How to provide one centralized management solution for all distinct platforms used worldwide by different mobile Internet Services providers. The diversity and geographical situation poses a relevant challenge to accomplish a secure and effective management of servers and the network. Console servers and out-of-band access to server’s console ports shall be used. Sun break-safe certification is mandatory.
The solution:
To have Cyclades AlterPath ACS series of console servers interface with all servers in the network. The flexibility and security features of the Alterpath ACS make it the best choice to centrally manage all servers and other devices in the network. About 50 units of the AlterPath ACS16 and ACS32 were used across the worldwide network to provide a precise view, access and management of more than 1,000 machines. Sun servers, communication and service servers are monitored to ensure faultless mobile Internet Services.
The corporate network is spread in 28 locations across 14 countries and the staff in charge of its administration relies on the Cyclades AlterPath ACS series of console servers strategically deployed for secure management of all their servers and networking devices. This includes Sun Solaris servers, AIX and other Linux servers, and Cisco routers and switches.
For the management of Sun Solaris servers, Cyclades console servers are Sun break-safe certified. “Break” is a specific signal sent over the console connection for the server to suspend operations. Unfortunately some console servers may unintentionally send a break signal when turned on or off, or due to an internal software malfunction. Cyclades console servers are specifically and exhaustively tested to ensure they will never send an unintentional break over their console connections. This gives network administrators the peace of mind to install them in places where they can not give direct assistance.
The adoption of the AlterPath ACS as a standard platform to control the entire network in substitution to non-uniform administration with old console servers resulted in a significant improvement of management productivity. The ACS unit’s robust engineering and embedded firmware are showing excellent performance and equipment downtime is kept under minimal values. When needed, technical support and maintenance are fast, contributing to the overall increase in productivity. This means that less time is spent on technical issues and more time can be dedicated for planning and design.
The centralized uniform management also leveraged on the strong authentication and access control of the ACS machines, including IPSec and SSHv2. The entire network can be viewed under one interface under the required levels of security, while increasing accessibility to systems located remotely. Out-of-band server and network management featured in the implemented solution gives IT administrators an enhanced facility in cases of server or networking device abnormalities or in situations when in-band access becomes unavailable.
One success story deserves another: the next step to further enhance the secure view, access and management of all networked devices is the introduction of Cyclades AlterPath PM Intelligent Power Management and AlterPath Manager E2000. They will leverage on the installed solution and provide a higher level of automation, security and functionality, which will minimize the extra effort to maintain the management infrastructure in such a large deployment of remotely managed appliances. Additional management tools implements easy interface to other management agents and heterogeneous interfaces to ensure the best network health always, everywhere. This is the strategy to maintain competitive advantage: to continue providing the best service for the mobile Internet customers in this remarkably dynamic market.
